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Website
American Museum of Natural History

Ask a Scientist About Our Environment

For Students 6th - 12th
Scientists respond to 26 question posed by learners. These experts answer in easy to understand language, include photos to illustrate the issue, offer suggestions for how young people can make a difference, and supply links to resources...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Overall Water Quality Using a Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine water samples from a local stream. They identify various types of macroinvertebrates found in that water ecosystem and perform a quantitative macroinvertebrate survey to determine the stream's water quality.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lotic Environment Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Our Watershed System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how watershed systems are made up, and visit the Susquehanna watershed system and map out the system. They evaluate the order of watercourses in their area.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Wonder of Wetlands

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the importance of the wetland ecosystem, its properties and functions, as well as, the many birds, animals, and plant life found there.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concepts of a watershed, stream flow and water quality. This five-day plan is an excellent way to introduce students to the concepts involved. They create their own watershed using a paper bag, water and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floods: Rising Waters and You

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will examine how floods work and why they can cause so much damage and destruction. They use a stream table to observe the processes that lead to flooding and the effects of floods on human-made structures. Includes a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing Watershed Experiences

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students observe organisms found in the water. In this lesson on organisms, students collect water from local streams and tributaries in order to study the organisms found in the water. As a culminating activity, students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Goes Around Comes Around!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners create an ecosystem in a jar to show a model of the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Working in small groups, they research and present orally the information they find on this cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Assessment

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students evaluate water quality of different sources.  In this water assessment lesson students chemical testing, identify biological factors in the stream, and write a paper on their position of the stream's quality. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify the differences in the water quality of a stream and complete water testing.  In this water quality instructional activity students collect aquatic insects and identify them. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: Naturally Cleaned

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use stream trays covered in different types of rocks or soil to investigate infiltrates and runoff. In this water pollution instructional activity, students work in groups with stream trays that have different substrates. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tale of Two Wetlands

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Pupils observe 2 separate wetlands (following downloadable worksheets) and record 10 similarities and 10 differences between them. Then they present their recommendations to the class who roleplay the government's wetland conservation...
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Worksheet
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

What is Drought? No Rain, No Water

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
How can climate change affect our water supply? Have kids read a passage about the water cycle and water conservation, which includes six questions that challenge them to use context clues.
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eBook
CK-12 Foundation

CK-12 Earth Science Concepts for Middle School

For Students 6th - 8th
Explore a variety of science concepts in an interactive textbook created for middle school scholars. A lengthy table of contents takes readers to pages comprised of a subject overview, outline, and summary. Follow links further to find...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaf Pack Study

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Pupils conduct an experiment using leaf packs.  In this leaf lesson students complete an activity in groups and complete a handout. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That Is Predictable

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the changes that can take place in an aquatic environment. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The research is used to report different possibilities of change because of abiotic or biotic factors.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fisheries Research Methods

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how scientists keep track of fish populations and why it is important to do so. They describe three methods currently used to sample fish populations. They participate in activities to simulate several of the sampling...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is In The Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the biotic and abiotic factors that are found in an aquatic ecosystem. The emphasis is upon the investigation of present an projections of future water quality. Then students visit a local body of water to gather...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the increased use of fertilizers effect biodiversity?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students conduct a hands-on lab activity in which they analyze a sample of water from a local stream or pond. They introduce a fertilizer solution into the sample and analyze and describe their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beaver Ecology

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students explore the lives of bgeahvers. They identify the physical and behavioral adaptations that help beavers survive in their environment. Students compare and contrast how beavers influence the ecology of both forest and aquatic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Dancing in the Water?

For Teachers K - 6th
Students learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Students read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples. Students complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Fish Habitat and Humans

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Strict habitat requirements are needed for the survival of fish populations and fish variety in the Great Lakes. Young scientists become experts in the basic needs of fish and understand how survival necessities can vary with different...